E-vaping device cartridge with internal infrared sensor

ABSTRACT

A cartridge for an e-vaping device includes an infrared sensor configured to measure infrared radiation emitted by at least a portion of a heating element coupled to a dispensing interface in the cartridge. The field of view of the infrared sensor may encompass an entirety of the heating element. The infrared sensor may be an infrared light emitting diode. The e-vaping device may include control circuitry configured to determine the temperature of the heating element based on sensor data generated by the infrared sensor and control the electrical power supplied to the cartridge based on the temperature of the heating element. The control circuitry may control the electrical power to maintain the temperature of the heating element below a threshold temperature. The control circuitry may determine the heating element temperature based on accessing at least a portion of the sensor data stored at a storage device in the cartridge.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser.No. 15/075,690 filed on Mar. 21, 2016, the entire contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND Field

The present disclosure relates to an electronic vaping or e-vapingdevice.

Description of Related Art

E-vaping devices, also referred to herein as electronic vaping devices(EVDs) may be used by adult vapers for portable vaping. An e-vapingdevice may vaporize a pre-vapor formulation to form a vapor. Thee-vaping device may include a reservoir that holds a pre-vaporformulation and a heating element that vaporizes the pre-vaporformulation by applying heat to at least a portion of the pre-vaporformulation.

In some cases, the heating element may generate excess heat, which mayresult in an increased temperature in one or more portions of thecartridge. The heating element may generate excess heat due to receivingexcessive power for vapor generation. In some cases, the excess heat maybe due to a reduction in the amount of pre-vapor formulation in thecartridge. Excessive heat, internal temperatures, etc. may result in anoverheat condition in the cartridge. Overheating of the cartridge mayresult in degradation of one or more of the pre-vapor formulations,formation of one or more reaction products which may detract from thesensory experience when included in a vapor, etc.

SUMMARY

According to some example embodiments, a cartridge for an e-vapingdevice may include a vaporizer assembly configured to vaporize apre-vapor formulation to generate a vapor and an infrared sensor. Thevaporizer assembly may include a dispensing interface configured to drawthe pre-vapor formulation from a reservoir and a heating element coupledto the dispensing interface, the heating element configured to heat thedrawn pre-vapor formulation. The infrared sensor may be configured tomeasure a temperature of at least a portion of the heating elementwithin a field of view based on measuring infrared radiation emitted bythe portion of the heating element.

In some example embodiments, the cartridge may include a hollow tubehaving an inner surface and an outer surface, the vaporizer assemblyextending between separate points on the inner surface of the hollowtube, the infrared sensor being coupled to the inner surface of thehollow tube.

In some example embodiments, the infrared sensor may be configured tomeasure a temperature of at least a portion of the dispensing interfacewithin the field of view based on measuring infrared radiation emittedby the portion of the dispensing interface.

In some example embodiments, the infrared sensor may be configured tomeasure a temperature of the heating element based on both of theinfrared radiation emitted by the portion of the heating element and theinfrared radiation emitted by the portion of the dispensing interface.

In some example embodiments, the field of view may encompass an entiretyof the heating element.

In some example embodiments, the infrared sensor may include an infraredlight emitting diode.

According to some example embodiments, an e-vaping device may include acartridge and a power supply. The cartridge may include a vaporizerassembly configured to vaporize a pre-vapor formulation to generate avapor and an infrared sensor. The vaporizer assembly may include adispensing interface configured to draw the pre-vapor formulation from areservoir and a heating element coupled to the dispensing interface, theheating element configured to heat the drawn pre-vapor formulation. Theinfrared sensor may be configured to measure a temperature of at least aportion of the heating element within a field of view based on measuringinfrared radiation emitted by the portion of the heating element. Thepower supply may be configured to supply electrical power to thecartridge.

In some example embodiments, the e-vaping device may include controlcircuitry configured to adjustably control the electrical power suppliedto the cartridge based on the measured temperature of the heatingelement.

In some example embodiments, the control circuitry may be configured toadjustably control the electrical power supplied to the cartridge tomaintain the measured temperature of the heating element below athreshold temperature.

In some example embodiments, the cartridge may include an storage devicecommunicatively coupled to the infrared sensor, the storage device beingconfigured to store sensor data generated by the infrared sensor, andthe control circuitry may be configured to adjustably control theelectrical power supplied to the cartridge based on accessing at least aportion of the sensor data stored at the storage device.

In some example embodiments, the cartridge may further include a hollowtube having an inner surface and an outer surface, the vaporizerassembly extending between separate points on the inner surface of thehollow tube, the infrared sensor being coupled to the inner surface ofthe hollow tube.

In some example embodiments, the infrared sensor may be configured tomeasure a temperature of at least a portion of the dispensing interfacewithin the field of view based on measuring infrared radiation emittedby the portion of the dispensing interface.

In some example embodiments, the infrared sensor may be configured tomeasure a temperature of the heating element based on both of theinfrared radiation emitted by the portion of the heating element and theinfrared radiation emitted by the portion of the dispensing interface.

In some example embodiments, the field of view may encompass an entiretyof the heating element.

In some example embodiments, the infrared sensor may include an infraredlight emitting diode.

In some example embodiments, the power supply may include a rechargeablebattery.

According to some example embodiments, a method may include configuringa cartridge to provide sensor data associated with a temperature of atleast a portion of a vaporizer assembly included in the cartridge. Theconfiguring may include installing a vaporizer assembly in thecartridge, the vaporizer assembly being configured to vaporize apre-vapor formulation to generate a vapor, the vaporizer assemblyincluding a dispensing interface and a heating element, the dispensinginterface being configured to draw the pre-vapor formulation from areservoir, the heating element being coupled to the dispensinginterface, the heating element being configured to heat the drawnpre-vapor formulation. The configuring may include coupling an infraredsensor to a portion of the cartridge such that at least a portion of theheating element is within a field of view of the infrared sensor, theinfrared sensor being configured to measure infrared radiation emittedwithin the field of view, the infrared sensor further configured togenerate the sensor data based on the measured infrared radiation.

In some example embodiments, the configuring may include coupling theinfrared sensor to a portion of the cartridge such that an entirety ofthe heating element is within the field of view of the infrared sensor.

In some example embodiments, the cartridge may include a hollow tubehaving an inner surface and an outer surface. The configuring mayinclude coupling the vaporizer assembly to the hollow tube such that thevaporizer assembly extends between separate points on the inner surfaceof the hollow tube. The configuring may include coupling the infraredsensor to the inner surface of the hollow tube.

In some example embodiments, the infrared sensor may include an infraredlight emitting diode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various features and advantages of the non-limiting embodimentsdescribed herein become more apparent upon review of the detaileddescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Theaccompanying drawings are merely provided for illustrative purposes andshould not be interpreted to limit the scope of the claims. Theaccompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unlessexplicitly noted. For purposes of clarity, various dimensions of thedrawings may have been exaggerated.

FIG. 1A is a side view of an e-vaping device, according to some exampleembodiments.

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view along line IB-IB′ of the e-vapingdevice of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an e-vaping device including aninfrared sensor that is internal to the vapor generator within acartridge, according to some example embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an e-vaping device including aninfrared sensor that is within a cartridge and external to the vaporgenerator, according to some example embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates configuring a cartridge to provide sensor dataassociated with a temperature of at least a portion of a vapor generatorincluded in the cartridge, according to some example embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Some detailed example embodiments are disclosed herein. However,specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merelyrepresentative for purposes of describing example embodiments. Exampleembodiments may, however, be embodied in many alternate forms and shouldnot be construed as limited to only the example embodiments set forthherein.

Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of variousmodifications and alternative forms, example embodiments thereof areshown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described indetail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent tolimit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but to thecontrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications,equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of exampleembodiments. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout thedescription of the figures.

It should be understood that when an element or layer is referred to asbeing “on,” “connected to,” “coupled to,” or “covering” another elementor layer, it may be directly on, connected to, coupled to, or coveringthe other element or layer or intervening elements or layers may bepresent. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directlyon,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another elementor layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. Likenumbers refer to like elements throughout the specification. As usedherein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one ormore of the associated listed items.

It should be understood that, although the terms first, second, third,etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, regions, layersand/or sections, these elements, regions, layers, and/or sections shouldnot be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguishone element, region, layer, or section from another region, layer, orsection. Thus, a first element, region, layer, or section discussedbelow could be termed a second element, region, layer, or sectionwithout departing from the teachings of example embodiments.

Spatially relative terms (e.g., “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,”“upper,” and the like) may be used herein for ease of description todescribe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) orfeature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It should be understood thatthe spatially relative terms are intended to encompass differentorientations of the device in use or operation in addition to theorientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in thefigures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” otherelements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elementsor features. Thus, the term “below” may encompass both an orientation ofabove and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptorsused herein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing variousexample embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of exampleembodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used inthis specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,steps, operations, and/or elements, but do not preclude the presence oraddition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations,elements, and/or groups thereof.

Example embodiments are described herein with reference tocross-sectional illustrations that are schematic illustrations ofidealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) of exampleembodiments. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations asa result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances,are to be expected. Thus, example embodiments should not be construed aslimited to the shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to includedeviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. Itwill be further understood that terms, including those defined incommonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaningthat is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant artand will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal senseunless expressly so defined herein.

FIG. 1A is a side view of an e-vaping device 60, according to someexample embodiments. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view along line IB-IB′of the e-vaping device 60 of FIG. 1A. The e-vaping device 60 may includeone or more of the features set forth in U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2013/0192623 to Tucker et al. filed Jan. 31, 2013 andU.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0192619 to Tucker et al.filed Jan. 14, 2013, the entire contents of each of which areincorporated herein by reference thereto. As used herein, the term“e-vaping device” is inclusive of all types of electronic vapingdevices, regardless of form, size or shape.

Referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the illustrated e-vaping device 60includes a replaceable cartridge (or first section) 70 and a reusablepower supply section (or second section) 72. The cartridge 70 and powersupply section 72 may be removably coupled together at complimentaryinterfaces 74, 84 of the respective cartridge 70 and power supplysection 72.

In some example embodiments, the interfaces 74, 84 are threadedconnectors. It should be appreciated that each interface 74, 84 may beany type of connector, including a snug-fit, detent, clamp, bayonet,and/or clasp. One or more of the interfaces 74, 84 may include a cathodeconnector, anode connector, some combination thereof, etc. toelectrically couple one or more elements of the cartridge 70 to one ormore power supplies 12 in the power supply section 72 when theinterfaces 74, 84 are coupled together.

An outlet end insert 19 is positioned at an outlet end of the cartridge70. The outlet end insert 19 includes at least one outlet port 21 thatmay be located off-axis from the longitudinal axis of the e-vapingdevice 60. The outlet port 21 may be angled outwardly in relation to thelongitudinal axis of the e-vaping device 60. Multiple outlet ports 21may be substantially uniformly distributed about the perimeter of theoutlet end insert 19 so as to substantially uniformly distribute vapordrawn through the outlet end insert 19 during vaping. Thus, as a vaporis drawn through the outlet end insert 19, the vapor may move indifferent directions.

The cartridge 70 includes an outer housing 16 extending in alongitudinal direction and an inner tube (or chimney) 62 coaxiallypositioned within the outer housing 16. The power supply section 72includes an outer housing 17 extending in a longitudinal direction. Insome example embodiments, the outer housing 16 may be a single tubehousing both the cartridge 70 and the power supply section 72 and theentire e-vaping device 60 may be disposable.

The outer housings 16, 17 may each have a generally cylindricalcross-section. In some example embodiments, the outer housings 16, 17may each have a generally triangular cross-section along one or more ofthe cartridge 70 and the power supply section 72. In some exampleembodiments, the outer housing 17 may have a greater circumference ordimensions at a tip end than a circumference or dimensions of the outerhousing 16 at an outlet end of the e-vaping device 60.

At one end of the inner tube 62, a nose portion of a gasket (or seal) 15is fitted into an end portion of the inner tube 62. An outer perimeterof the gasket 15 provides a substantially airtight seal with an interiorsurface of the outer housing 16. The gasket 15 includes a channel 14.The channel 14 opens into an interior of the inner tube 62 that definesa central channel 20. A space 63 at a backside portion of the gasket 15may assure communication between the channel 14 and one or more airinlet ports 44. Air may be drawn into the space 63 in the cartridge 70via the one or more air inlet ports 44 during vaping, and the channel 14may enable such air to be drawn into the central channel 20.

In some example embodiments, a nose portion of another gasket 18 isfitted into another end portion of the inner tube 62. An outer perimeterof the gasket 18 provides a substantially tight seal with an interiorsurface of the outer housing 16. The gasket 18 includes a channel 23disposed between the central channel 20 of the inner tube 62 and a space65 at an outlet end of the outer housing 16. The channel 23 maytransport a vapor from the central channel 20 to the space 65 to exitthe cartridge 70 via the outlet end insert 19.

In some example embodiments, at least one air inlet port 44 may beformed in the outer housing 16, adjacent to the interface 74 to reduceand/or minimize the chance of an adult vaper's fingers occluding one ofthe ports 44 and to control the resistance-to-draw (RTD) during vaping.In some example embodiments, the air inlet ports 44 may be machined intothe outer housing 16 with precision tooling such that their diametersare closely controlled and replicated from one e-vaping device 60 to thenext during manufacture.

In a further example embodiment, the air inlet ports 44 may be drilledwith carbide drill bits or other high-precision tools and/or techniques.In yet a further example embodiment, the outer housing 16 may be formedof metal or metal alloys such that the size and shape of the air inletports 44 may not be altered during manufacturing operations, packaging,and vaping. Thus, the air inlet ports 44 may provide consistent RTD. Inyet a further example embodiment, the air inlet ports 44 may be sizedand configured such that the e-vaping device 60 has a RTD in the rangeof from about 60 mm H₂O to about 150 mm H₂O.

Still referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the cartridge 70 includes avapor generator 80. The vapor generator 80 includes a reservoir 22 and avaporizer assembly 90. The vaporizer assembly 90 is coupled to thereservoir 22. The vaporizer assembly 90 includes a dispensing interface25 and a heating element 24.

The reservoir 22 is configured to hold one or more pre-vaporformulations. The space defined between the gaskets 15 and 18 and theouter housing 16 and the inner tube 62 may establish the confines of thereservoir 22. Thus, the reservoir 22 may be contained in an outerannulus between the inner tube 62 and the outer housing 16 and betweenthe gaskets 15 and 18. The reservoir 22 may at least partially surroundthe central channel 20. The reservoir 22 may include a storage mediumconfigured to store the pre-vapor formulation therein. The storagemedium may include a winding of cotton gauze or other fibrous materialabout a portion of the cartridge 70.

The dispensing interface 25 is coupled to the reservoir 22. Thedispensing interface 25 may extend transversely across the centralchannel 20 between opposing portions of the reservoir 22. In someexample embodiments, the dispensing interface 25 may extend parallel toa longitudinal axis of the central channel 20. In some exampleembodiments, the dispensing interface 25 may extend orthogonally to thelongitudinal axis of the central channel 20. The dispensing interface 25is configured to draw one or more pre-vapor formulations from thereservoir 22. Pre-vapor formulation drawn from the reservoir 22 into thedispensing interface 25 may be drawn into an interior of the dispensinginterface 25. It will be understood, therefore, that pre-vaporformulation drawn from a reservoir 22 into a dispensing interface 25 mayinclude pre-vapor formulation held in the dispensing interface 25.

The pre-vapor formulation drawn from the reservoir 22 into thedispensing interface 25 may be vaporized from the dispensing interface25 based on heat generated by the heating element 24. During vaping,pre-vapor formulation may be transferred from the reservoir 22 and/orstorage medium in the proximity of the heating element 24 throughcapillary action of the dispensing interface 25.

The heating element 24 is coupled to the dispensing interface 25 suchthat the heating element 24 is coupled to an outer surface of thedispensing interface 25. The heating element 24 may extend transverselyacross the central channel 20 between opposing portions of the reservoir22. In some example embodiments, the heating element 24 may extendparallel to a longitudinal axis of the central channel 20. In someexample embodiments, the heating element 24 may extend orthogonally tothe longitudinal axis of the central channel 20. The heating element 24is configured to generate heat when activated. The heating element 24may heat one or more portions of the dispensing interface 25, includingat least some of the pre-vapor formulation held in the dispensinginterface 25, to vaporize the at least some of the pre-vapor formulationheld in the dispensing interface 25.

The heating element 24 may at least partially surround a portion of thedispensing interface 25 such that when the heating element 24 isactivated, one or more pre-vapor formulations in the dispensinginterface 25 may be vaporized by the heating element 24 to form a vapor.In some example embodiments, including the example embodimentillustrated in FIG. 1B, the heating element 24 completely surrounds thedispensing interface 25.

In some example embodiments, including the example embodiment shown inFIG. 1B, and as shown further with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, theheating element 24 includes a heater coil wire that extends around theouter surface of the dispensing interface 25.

The heating element 24 may heat one or more pre-vapor formulations inthe dispensing interface 25 through thermal conduction. Alternatively,heat from the heating element 24 may be conducted to the one or morepre-vapor formulations by a heat conductive element or the heatingelement 24 may transfer heat to the incoming ambient air that is drawnthrough the e-vaping device 60 during vaping, which in turn heats thepre-vapor formulation by convection.

Still referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the cartridge 70 includes aninfrared sensor 81. The infrared sensor 81 is configured to measure atemperature of at least a portion of the vaporizer assembly 90 based onmeasuring infrared radiation emitted by one or more portions of thevaporizer assembly 90. Because the vaporizer assembly 90 includes theheating element 24 and the dispensing interface 25, the infrared sensor81 is configured to measure a temperature of at least one portion of theheating element 24 and/or at least one portion of the dispensinginterface 25.

The infrared sensor 81 has a field of view 83. The infrared sensor 81 isconfigured to measure infrared radiation emitted by one or moreradiation sources located within the field of view 83. Because one ormore portions of the vaporizer assembly 90 are located within the fieldof view 83, the infrared sensor 81 is configured to measure infraredradiation emitted by the one or more portions of the vaporizer assembly90.

In some example embodiments, the infrared sensor 81 is configured tomeasure a temperature of at least a portion of the vaporizer assembly 90based on an average temperature of one or more portions of the vaporizerassembly 90 within the field of view 83. Such portions may include atleast a portion of the heating element 24 and at least a portion of thedispensing interface 25, such that the infrared sensor 81 measures atemperature of the vaporizer assembly 90 based on measuring temperaturesof one or more portions of the heating element 24 and the dispensinginterface 25.

In some example embodiments, the field of view 83 may encompass anentirety of the vaporizer assembly 90. As a result, the infrared sensor81 may be configured to measure a temperature of an entirety of at leastone of the heating element 24 and the dispensing interface 25 extendingthrough the central channel 20.

In some example embodiments, the infrared sensor 81 is configured tomeasure a temperature of the heating element 24 based on measuringinfrared radiation emitted by one or more portions of both the heatingelement 24 and the dispensing interface 25 located within the field ofview 83. As a result, the infrared sensor 81 may measure infraredradiation emitted from the heating element 24 both directly andindirectly to determine a temperature of one or more portions of theheating element 24.

In some example embodiments, the infrared sensor 81 is configured tosimultaneously measure separate, respective temperatures of multipleseparate radiation sources located within the field of view 83. Forexample, when multiple portions of the heating element 24 are within thefield of view 83, the infrared sensor 81 may measure separatetemperatures based on infrared radiation emitted by the respectiveportions of the heating element 24.

In some example embodiments, the infrared sensor 81 measures atemperature of an element based on measuring respective temperatures ofmultiple separate portions of the element. The infrared sensor 81 maymeasure a temperature of the element based on processing the multiplemeasured temperatures to determine the measured temperature of theelement.

For example, the infrared sensor 81 may measure a temperature of theheating element 24 based on measuring one or more respectivetemperatures of multiple separate portions of the heating element 24that are within the field of view 83. The infrared sensor 81 maydetermine a measured temperature of the heating element 24 based ondetermining an average value of multiple respective measuredtemperatures of the multiple portions of the heating element 24.

In some example embodiments, the infrared sensor 81 is configured togenerate sensor data based on measuring a temperature of at least oneradiation source located within the field of view 83. The sensor datamay include data indicating the measured temperature of one or moreparticular radiation sources located at one or more particularrespective portions of the field of view 83.

In some example embodiments, the cartridge 70 includes a storage device82 communicatively coupled to the infrared sensor 81 via one or moreleads 85. The storage device 82 may store sensor data generated by theinfrared sensor 81. The storage device 82 may generate and manage ahistorical record of temperatures measured by the infrared sensor 81 inone or more portions of the field of view 83. The historical record maybe a database of measured temperatures associated with associated timeperiods of the respective measured temperatures and field of view 83coordinates associated with the respective measured temperatures.

In some example embodiments, as described further below with referenceto FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the infrared sensor 81 may have an unobstructedfield of view 83 of the vaporizer assembly 90 based on the infraredsensor 81 being included in the cartridge 70, relative to an infraredsensor 81 that is external to the cartridge 70. In addition, theinfrared sensor 81 may have reduced separation from the vaporizerassembly 90, based on the infrared sensor 81 being included in thecartridge 70, relative to an infrared sensor 81 that is external to thecartridge 70. Furthermore, the field of view 83 may be at leastpartially restricted from becoming obstructed by various materialsduring and after vaping, based on the infrared sensor 81 being includedin the cartridge 70, relative to an infrared sensor 81 that is externalto the cartridge 70.

An unobstructed field of view 83 and reduced spacing (i.e., improvedproximity) of the infrared sensor 81 to the vaporizer assembly 90 mayconfigure the infrared sensor 81 to measure temperatures of one or moreportions of the vaporizer assembly 90 with improved accuracy andprecision, relative to an infrared sensor 81 that is external to thecartridge 70.

An e-vaping device 60 that includes such an infrared sensor 81 may thusbe configured to implement temperature-based control of electrical powersupplied to the heating element 24 with improved accuracy and precision.

Such an e-vaping device 60 may be configured to provide an improvedsensory experience during vaping. For example, the e-vaping device 60may be configured to control the supply of electrical power to theheating element 24 to mitigate a probability of overheating pre-vaporformulation during vaping, where such overheating may induce chemicalreactions involving the pre-vapor formulation to produce reactionproducts. Such reaction products may detract from the sensory experienceprovided by the e-vaping device 60 during vaping. In addition, such ane-vaping device 60 may be configured to provide improved operationallifetime of one or more portions of the e-vaping device 60.

Still referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the cartridge 70 includes aconnector element 91 configured to at least partially establishelectrical connections between elements in the cartridge 70 with one ormore elements in the power supply section 72. In some exampleembodiments, the connector element 91 includes an electrode elementconfigured to electrically couple at least one electrical lead to thepower supply 12 in the power supply section 72 when interfaces 74, 84are coupled together. In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1B,for example, electrical lead 26-1 is coupled to connector element 91. Anelectrode element may be one or more of a cathode connector element andan anode connector element. If and/or when interfaces 74, 84 are coupledtogether, the connector element 91 may be coupled with at least oneportion of the power supply 12, as shown in FIG. 1B.

In some example embodiments, one or more of the interfaces 74, 84include one or more of a cathode connector element and an anodeconnector element. In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1B, forexample, electrical lead 26-2 is coupled to the interface 74. As furthershown in FIG. 1B, the power supply section 72 includes a lead 92 thatcouples the control circuitry 11 to the interface 84. If and/or wheninterfaces 74, 84 are coupled together, the coupled interfaces 74, 84may electrically couple leads 26-2 and 92 together.

If and/or when an element in the cartridge 70 is coupled to both leads26-1 and 26-2, an electrical circuit through the cartridge 70 and powersupply section 72 may be established. The established electrical circuitmay include at least the element in the cartridge 70, control circuitry11, and the power supply 12. The electrical circuit may include leads26-1 and 26-2, lead 92, and interfaces 74, 84.

In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1B, heating element 24,infrared sensor 81, and storage device 82 are coupled to interface 74and connector element 91, such that the heating element 24, infraredsensor 81, and storage device 82 may be electrically coupled to thepower supply 12 via interface 74 and connector element 91 if and/or wheninterfaces 74, 84 are coupled together.

The control circuitry 11, described further below, is configured to becoupled to the power supply 12, such that the control circuitry 11 maycontrol the supply of electrical power from the power supply 12 to oneor more elements of the cartridge 70. The control circuitry 11 maycontrol the supply of electrical power to the element based oncontrolling the established electrical circuit. For example, the controlcircuitry 11 may selectively open or close the electrical circuit,adjustably control an electrical current through the circuit, etc.

In some example embodiments, the storage device 82 is coupled to one ormore of the interface 74 and connector element 91 through one or moreleads 86. The leads 86 may be coupled to at least one of interface 74and connector element 91 through one or more of leads 86 and leads 26-1and 26-2. In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1B, for example,the storage device 82 is coupled to interface 74 and connector element91 via leads 86 that are coupled to leads 26-1 and 26-2, respectively.

In some example embodiments, including the example embodimentillustrated in FIG. 1B, a storage device 82 is included within thecartridge 70. Infrared sensor 81 may be coupled to the storage device 82though leads 85. The infrared sensor 81 may be configured to receiveelectrical power from the power supply 12 through the storage device 82and leads 85 if and/or when interfaces 74, 84 are coupled together.

In some example embodiments, the storage device 82 may be coupled tointerface 74 and connector element 91 through one or more electricalleads 86, such that the storage device 82 may be electrically coupled toat least the power supply 12 and the control circuitry 11 if and/or whenthe interfaces 74, 84 are coupled together. In the example embodimentillustrated in FIG. 1B, for example, storage device 82 is coupled toconnector element 91 through a lead 86 coupled to lead 26-1, an storagedevice 82 is further coupled to interface 74 through a lead 86 coupledto lead 26-2.

In some example embodiments, the infrared sensor 81 may be electricallycoupled to the power supply 12 independently of the storage device 82.For example, the infrared sensor 81 may be coupled to interface 74 andconnector element 91 through one or more electrical leads 85 that bypassthe storage device 82. Such one or more electrical leads 85 may directlycouple with one or more of connector element 91 and interface 74. Suchone or more electrical leads 85 may couple with one or more of leads26-1 and 26-2 such that the infrared sensor 81 may be coupled tointerface 74 and connector element 91 through one or more of the leads26-1 and 26-2.

In some example embodiments, the storage device 82 is absent from thecartridge 70 and the infrared sensor 81 is coupled to interface 74 andconnector element 91 through at least electrical leads 85. Theelectrical leads 85 may be coupled to one or more of leads 26-1 and26-2.

Still referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the power supply section 72includes a sensor 13 responsive to air drawn into the power supplysection 72 through an air inlet port 44 a adjacent to a free end or tipend of the e-vaping device 60, a power supply 12, and control circuitry11. The power supply 12 may include a rechargeable battery. The sensor13 may be one or more of a pressure sensor, a microelectromechanicalsystem (MEMS) sensor, etc.

In some example embodiments, the power supply 12 includes a batteryarranged in the e-vaping device 60 such that the anode is downstream ofthe cathode. A connector element 91 contacts the downstream end of thebattery. The heating element 24 is connected to the power supply 12 bytwo spaced apart electrical leads 26-1 to 26-2 coupled to connectorelement 91.

The power supply 12 may be a Lithium-ion battery or one of its variants,for example a Lithium-ion polymer battery. Alternatively, the powersupply 12 may be a nickel-metal hydride battery, a nickel cadmiumbattery, a lithium-manganese battery, a lithium-cobalt battery or a fuelcell. The e-vaping device 60 may be usable until the energy in the powersupply 12 is depleted or in the case of lithium polymer battery, aminimum voltage cut-off level is achieved.

Further, the power supply 12 may be rechargeable and may includecircuitry configured to allow the battery to be chargeable by anexternal charging device. To recharge the e-vaping device 60, an USBcharger or other suitable charger assembly may be used.

Still referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, upon completing the connectionbetween the cartridge 70 and the power supply section 72, the powersupply 12 may be electrically connected with the heating element 24 ofthe cartridge 70 upon actuation of the sensor 13. Air is drawn primarilyinto the cartridge 70 through one or more air inlet ports 44. The one ormore air inlet ports 44 may be located along the outer housing 16 or atone or more of the coupled interfaces 74, 84.

The sensor 13 may be configured to sense an air pressure drop andinitiate application of voltage from the power supply 12 to the heatingelement 24. In some example embodiments, the sensor 13 may be at leastone of a MEMS sensor, a pressure sensor, and a negative pressure sensor.The control circuitry 11 may also include a heater activation light 48configured to glow when the heating element 24 is activated. The heateractivation light 48 may include a light emitting diode (LED). Moreover,the heater activation light 48 may be arranged to be visible to an adultvaper during vaping. In addition, the heater activation light 48 may beutilized for e-vaping system diagnostics or to indicate that rechargingis in progress. The heater activation light 48 may also be configuredsuch that the adult vaper may activate and/or deactivate the heateractivation light 48 for privacy. As shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, theheater activation light 48 may be located on the tip end of the e-vapingdevice 60. In some example embodiments, the heater activation light 48may be located on a side portion of the outer housing 17.

In addition, the at least one air inlet port 44 a may be locatedadjacent the sensor 13, such that the sensor 13 may sense air flowindicative of an adult vaper initiating a vaping and activates the powersupply 12 and the heater activation light 48 to indicate that theheating element 24 is working.

The control circuitry 11 may supply electrical power to the heatingelement 24 responsive to the sensor 13. In some example embodiments, thecontrol circuitry 11 is configured to adjustably control the electricalpower supplied to one or more elements. Adjustably controlling thesupply of electrical power may include supplying electrical power havinga determined set of characteristics, where the determined set ofcharacteristics may be adjusted. To adjustably control the supply ofelectrical power, the control circuitry 11 may control the power supply12 such that the power supply 12 supplies electrical power having one ormore characteristics determined by the control circuitry 11. Such one ormore selected characteristics may include one or more of voltage, andcurrent of the electrical power. Such one or more selectedcharacteristics may include a magnitude of the electrical power. It willbe understood that adjustably controlling the supply of electrical powermay include determining a set of characteristics of electrical power andcontrolling the power supply 12 such that the power supply 12 supplieselectrical power having the determined set of characteristics.

In some example embodiments, the control circuitry 11 may include amaximum, time-period limiter. In some example embodiments, the controlcircuitry 11 may include a manually operable switch for an adult vaperto initiate a vaping. The time-period of the electric current supply tothe heating element 24 may be pre-set depending on the amount ofpre-vapor formulation desired to be vaporized. In some exampleembodiments, the control circuitry 11 may supply power to the heatingelement 24 as long as the sensor 13 detects a pressure drop.

To control the supply of electrical power to a heating element 24, thecontrol circuitry 11 may execute one or more instances ofcomputer-executable program code. The control circuitry 11 may include aprocessor and a memory. The memory may be a computer-readable storagemedium storing computer-executable code. Supplying power to a heatingelement 24 may be referred to herein interchangeably as activating theheating element 24.

The control circuitry 11 may include processing circuitry including, butnot limited to, a processor, Central Processing Unit (CPU), acontroller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor,a microcomputer, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), aSystem-on-Chip (SoC), a programmable logic unit, a microprocessor, orany other device capable of responding to and executing instructions ina defined manner. In some example embodiments, the control circuitry 11may be at least one of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)and an ASIC chip.

The control circuitry 11 may be configured as a special purpose machineby executing computer-readable program code stored on a storage device.The program code may include program or computer-readable instructions,software elements, software modules, data files, data structures, and/orthe like, capable of being implemented by one or more hardware devices,such as one or more of the control circuitry mentioned above. Examplesof program code include both machine code produced by a compiler andhigher level program code that is executed using an interpreter.

The control circuitry 11 may include one or more storage devices. Theone or more storage devices may be tangible or non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media, such as random access memory (RAM),read only memory (ROM), a permanent mass storage device (such as a diskdrive), solid state (e.g., NAND flash) device, and/or any other likedata storage mechanism capable of storing and recording data. The one ormore storage devices may be configured to store computer programs,program code, instructions, or some combination thereof, for one or moreoperating systems and/or for implementing the example embodimentsdescribed herein. The computer programs, program code, instructions, orsome combination thereof, may also be loaded from a separate computerreadable storage medium into the one or more storage devices and/or oneor more computer processing devices using a drive mechanism. Suchseparate computer readable storage medium may include a Universal SerialBus (USB) flash drive, a memory stick, a Blu-ray/DVD/CD-ROM drive, amemory card, and/or other like computer readable storage media. Thecomputer programs, program code, instructions, or some combinationthereof, may be loaded into the one or more storage devices and/or theone or more computer processing devices from a remote data storagedevice via a network interface, rather than via a local computerreadable storage medium. Additionally, the computer programs, programcode, instructions, or some combination thereof, may be loaded into theone or more storage devices and/or the one or more processors from aremote computing system that is configured to transfer and/or distributethe computer programs, program code, instructions, or some combinationthereof, over a network. The remote computing system may transfer and/ordistribute the computer programs, program code, instructions, or somecombination thereof, via a wired interface, an air interface, and/or anyother like medium.

Still referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, when activated, the heatingelement 24 may heat a portion of the dispensing interface 25 surroundedby the heating element 24 for less than about 10 seconds. Thus, thepower cycle (or maximum vaping length) may range in period from about 2seconds to about 10 seconds (e.g., about 3 seconds to about 9 seconds,about 4 seconds to about 8 seconds or about 5 seconds to about 7seconds).

In some example embodiments, sensor data generated by the infraredsensor 81 is communicated to control circuitry 11. The sensor data maybe communicated as electrical signals. The sensor data may becommunicated from the infrared sensor 81 to the control circuitry 11through one or more electrical leads, electrode elements, and elementsthrough which the infrared sensor 81 and control circuitry 11 areelectrically coupled. In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1B,for example, sensor data may be communicated from the infrared sensor 81to the control circuitry 11 through leads 85, storage device 82, atleast one of leads 86, lead 26-2, interfaces 74, 84, and lead 92.

As shown in FIG. 1B, sensor data may be communicated from the infraredsensor 81 to the storage device 82 through leads 85, and sensor data maybe communicated from the storage device 82 to the control circuitry 11through one or more leads 86, lead 26-2, interfaces 74, 84, and lead 92.

In some example embodiments, the cartridge 70 is configured tocommunicatively couple one or more of the infrared sensor 81 and thestorage device 82 to the control circuitry 11 when interfaces 74, 84 arecoupled to each other.

In some example embodiments, the control circuitry 11 may be configuredto adjustably control an amount of electrical power supplied to theheating element 24 based on a measured temperature of at least a portionof the vaporizer assembly 90. Such a portion of the vaporizer assembly90 may include at least a portion of the heating element 24. The controlcircuitry 11 may be configured to determine a temperature of at least aportion of the vaporizer assembly 90 based on sensor data generated bythe infrared sensor 81, where the sensor data indicates a temperature ofthe portion of the vaporizer assembly 90.

When the portion of the vaporizer assembly 90 located within the fieldof view 83 is a portion of the heating element 24, the infrared sensor81 may generate sensor data indicating a measured temperature of theportion of the heating element 24 based on measuring infrared radiationemitted by the portion of the heating element 24. The control circuitry11 may determine a measured temperature of the portion of the heatingelement 24 based on sensor data generated by the infrared sensor 81. Thecontrol circuitry 11 may further be configured to adjustably control anamount of electrical power supplied to the heating element 24 based onthe measured temperature of the portion of the heating element 24.

In some example embodiments, the control circuitry 11 may access one ormore of sensor data, historical records, etc. stored at the storagedevice 82. The control circuitry 11 may further be configured toadjustably control an amount of electrical power supplied to the heatingelement 24 based on one or more of historical records and sensor datastored at the storage device 82.

The control circuitry 11 may adjustably control the supply of electricalpower to the heating element 24 to control an amount of heat generatedby the heating element 24. The control circuitry 11 may adjustablycontrol the supply of electrical power based on a relationship betweenthe amount of electrical power supplied to the heating element 24 and ameasured temperature of one or more portions of the vaporizer assembly90. In some example embodiments, the control circuitry 11 may adjustablycontrol the supply of electrical power based on a relationship betweenthe amount of electrical power supplied to the heating element 24 and ameasured temperature of one or more portions of the heating element 24.

In some example embodiments, a relationship between the amount ofelectrical power supplied to the heating element 24 and a measuredtemperature of one or more portions of the vaporizer assembly 90 may bestored in a lookup table (“LUT”). The LUT may include an array oftemperature values and associated electrical power values. For example,the LUT may include a set of temperature values, and the array mayassociate each separate temperature value with a separate electricalpower value.

The separate electrical power values corresponding to each of theseparate values of temperature in the array may be determinedexperimentally. For example, an amount of power supplied to the heatingelement 24 may be measured concurrently with a temperature of one ormore portions of the vaporizer assembly 90 being measured. Theconcurrently-measured temperature and amount of electrical power may beentered into the array of the LUT.

The control circuitry 11 may access the LUT to determine an electricalpower value that is associated with a measured temperature of one ormore portions of the vaporizer assembly 90. The control circuitry 11 maycontrol the supply of electrical power to the heating element 24according to the determined electrical power value. For example, thecontrol circuitry 11 may determine, based on sensor data communicatedfrom at least one of the infrared sensor 81 and the storage device 82, avalue of a measured temperature of the vaporizer assembly 90. Thecontrol circuitry 11 may access the LUT and search for an electricalpower value that is associated with the value of the measuredtemperature in the array. Upon identifying the associated electricalpower value, the control circuitry 11 may control the supply ofelectrical power to the heating element 24 such that the amount ofelectrical power supplied to the heating element 24 is the identifiedelectrical power value.

The LUT may be stored at a storage device included in at least one ofthe control circuitry 11 and the storage device 82. The controlcircuitry 11 may access the LUT based on determining a value of ameasured temperature of one or more portions of the vaporizer assembly90.

In some example embodiments, the control circuitry 11 is configured toadjustably control the supply of electrical power to the heating element24 to control the temperature of one or more portions of the vaporizerassembly 90. Such one or more portions of the vaporizer assembly 90 mayinclude one or more portions of the dispensing interface 25 andpre-vapor formulation held therein. As a result, the control circuitry11 may be configured to adjustably control the supply of electricalpower to the heating element 24 to control the temperature of one ormore portions of the dispensing interface 25 and pre-vapor formulationheld therein.

The control circuitry 11 may adjustably control the supply of electricalpower to the heating element 24 based on a relationship between ameasured temperature of one or more portions of the vaporizer assembly90 and a temperature of one or more of the dispensing interface 25 andpre-vapor formulation included therein.

The control circuitry 11 may be configured to adjustably control thesupply of electrical power to the heating element 24 to maintain thetemperature of one or more portions of the vaporizer assembly 90 at orbelow a threshold temperature value. For example, the control circuitry11 may be configured to adjustably control the supply of electricalpower to the heating element 24 to maintain the temperature of one ormore portions of the dispensing interface 25 and pre-vapor formulationheld therein at or below a threshold temperature value.

The threshold temperature value may be a particular temperature valueassociated with a chemical reaction associated with the pre-vaporformulation. For example, the threshold temperature value may be atemperature at which the pre-vapor formulation may undergo adecomposition reaction. In another example, the threshold temperaturevalue may be a temperature at which the pre-vapor formulation may reactwith one or more elements of the cartridge 70, etc.

The control circuitry 11 may be configured to maintain the temperatureof one or more portions of the vaporizer assembly 90 at or below athreshold temperature value based on controlling the supply ofelectrical power according to a lookup table (“LUT”) that associatesseparate values of temperature with separate values of electrical power.The LUT may include values of electrical power associated with separatetemperature values at or above the threshold temperature value. Each ofthese electrical power values may be an amount of electrical power that,when supplied to the heating element 24, results in the vaporizerassembly 90 cooling to a temperature that is equal to or smaller thanthe threshold temperature value.

The electrical power values included in the entries of the LUT may bedetermined experimentally. For example, an amount of power supplied tothe heating element 24 may be measured concurrently with a temperatureof one or more portions of the vaporizer assembly 90 being measured. Anelectrical power value associated with a temperature value that exceedsthe threshold temperature value may be an amount of electrical powerthat is experimentally determined to coincide with a measured vaporizerassembly 90 temperature that is less than the threshold temperature by aparticular margin. The value of the margin may be a constant value. Insome example embodiments, based on controlling the supply of electricalpower to the heating element 24 according to a LUT, the controlcircuitry 11 may adjust the amount of electrical power supplied tomaintain the measured temperature at or below a threshold value.

The threshold temperature value may be associated with a temperatureabove which one or more of the pre-vapor formulation or one or morematerials included in the dispensing interface 25 are overheated.Overheating may result in degradation of pre-vapor formulation held inthe e-vaping device 60. Such degradation may occur based on chemicalreactions involving the pre-vapor formulation.

Vapors generated based on vaporization of a non-degraded pre-vaporformulation may provide an improved sensory experience relative tovapors generated based on vaporization of an at least partially degradedpre-vapor formulation. As a result, by adjustably controlling the supplyof electrical power to the heating element 24 based on a temperature ofone or more portions of the vaporizer assembly 90, including one or moreof the heating element 24, the dispensing interface 25, and pre-vaporformulation held in the dispensing interface 25, the control circuitry11 may mitigate a probability of overheating of one or more of thedispensing interface 25 and the pre-vapor formulation held therein.

Furthermore, such mitigation may result in an improvement of the sensoryexperience provided by a vapor generated via vaporization of pre-vaporformulation held in the dispensing interface 25.

In some example embodiments, the reservoir 22 is configured to holddifferent pre-vapor formulations. For example, the reservoir 22 mayinclude one or more sets of storage media, where the one or more sets ofstorage media are configured to hold different pre-vapor formulations.

In some example embodiments, the dispensing interface 25 includes anabsorbent material, the absorbent material being arranged in fluidiccommunication with the heating element 24. The absorbent material mayinclude a wick having an elongated form and arranged in fluidiccommunication with the reservoir 22. The dispensing interface 25 mayinclude a wicking material. The wicking material may be a fibrouswicking material. The wicking material may extend into reservoir 22.

A pre-vapor formulation, as described herein, is a material orcombination of materials that may be transformed into a vapor. Forexample, the pre-vapor formulation may be a liquid, solid and/or gelformulation including, but not limited to, water, beads, solvents,active ingredients, ethanol, plant extracts, natural or artificialflavors, and/or pre-vapor formulations such as glycerin and propyleneglycol. Different pre-vapor formulations may include different elements.Different pre-vapor formulations may have different properties. Forexample, different pre-vapor formulations may have different viscositieswhen the different pre-vapor formulations are at a common temperature.One or more of pre-vapor formulations may include those described inU.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0020823 to Lipowicz et al.filed Jul. 16, 2014 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2015/0313275 to Anderson et al. filed Jan. 21, 2015, the entire contentsof each of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto.

The pre-vapor formulation may include nicotine or may exclude nicotine.The pre-vapor formulation may include one or more tobacco flavors. Thepre-vapor formulation may include one or more flavors that are separatefrom one or more tobacco flavors.

In some example embodiments, a pre-vapor formulation that includesnicotine may also include one or more acids. The one or more acids maybe one or more of pyruvic acid, formic acid, oxalic acid, glycolic acid,acetic acid, isovaleric acid, valeric acid, propionic acid, octanoicacid, lactic acid, levulinic acid, sorbic acid, malic acid, tartaricacid, succinic acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, oleic acid, aconiticacid, butyric acid, cinnamic acid, decanoic acid,3,7-dimethyl-6-octenoic acid, 1-glutamic acid, heptanoic acid, hexanoicacid, 3-hexenoic acid, trans-2-hexenoic acid, isobutyric acid, lauricacid, 2-methylbutyric acid, 2-methylvaleric acid, myristic acid,nonanoic acid, palmitic acid, 4-penenoic acid, phenylacetic acid,3-phenylpropionic acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuricacid and combinations thereof.

The storage medium of one or more reservoirs 22 may be a fibrousmaterial including at least one of cotton, polyethylene, polyester,rayon and combinations thereof. The fibers may have a diameter rangingin size from about 6 microns to about 15 microns (e.g., about 8 micronsto about 12 microns or about 9 microns to about 11 microns). The storagemedium may be a sintered, porous or foamed material. Also, the fibersmay be sized to be irrespirable and may have a cross-section that has aY-shape, cross shape, clover shape or any other suitable shape. In someexample embodiments, one or more reservoirs 22 may include a filled tanklacking any storage medium and containing only pre-vapor formulation.

Still referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the reservoir 22 may be sizedand configured to hold enough pre-vapor formulation such that thee-vaping device 60 may be configured for vaping for at least about 200seconds. The e-vaping device 60 may be configured to allow each vapingto last a maximum of about 5 seconds.

The dispensing interface 25 may include a wicking material that includesfilaments (or threads) having a capacity to draw one or more pre-vaporformulations. For example, a dispensing interface 25 may be a bundle ofglass (or ceramic) filaments, a bundle including a group of windings ofglass filaments, etc., all of which arrangements may be capable ofdrawing pre-vapor formulation via capillary action by interstitialspacings between the filaments. The filaments may be generally alignedin a direction perpendicular (transverse) to the longitudinal directionof the e-vaping device 60. In some example embodiments, the dispensinginterface 25 may include one to eight filament strands, each strandcomprising a plurality of glass filaments twisted together. The endportions of the dispensing interface 25 may be flexible and foldableinto the confines of one or more reservoirs 22. The filaments may have across-section that is generally cross-shaped, clover-shaped, Y-shaped,or in any other suitable shape.

The dispensing interface 25 may include any suitable material orcombination of materials, also referred to herein as wicking materials.Examples of suitable materials may be, but not limited to, glass,ceramic- or graphite-based materials. The dispensing interface 25 mayhave any suitable capillarity drawing action to accommodate pre-vaporformulations having different physical properties such as density,viscosity, surface tension and vapor pressure.

The heating element 24 may be formed of any suitable electricallyresistive materials. Examples of suitable electrically resistivematerials may include, but not limited to, titanium, zirconium, tantalumand metals from the platinum group. Examples of suitable metal alloysinclude, but not limited to, stainless steel, nickel, cobalt, chromium,aluminum-titanium-zirconium, hafnium, niobium, molybdenum, tantalum,tungsten, tin, gallium, manganese and iron-containing alloys, andsuper-alloys based on nickel, iron, cobalt, stainless steel. Forexample, the heating element 24 may be formed of nickel aluminide, amaterial with a layer of alumina on the surface, iron aluminide andother composite materials, the electrically resistive material mayoptionally be embedded in, encapsulated or coated with an insulatingmaterial or vice-versa, depending on the kinetics of energy transfer andthe external physicochemical properties required. The heating element 24may include at least one material selected from the group consisting ofstainless steel, copper, copper alloys, nickel-chromium alloys, superalloys and combinations thereof. In some example embodiments, theheating element 24 may be formed of nickel-chromium alloys oriron-chromium alloys. In some example embodiments, the heating element24 may be a ceramic heater having an electrically resistive layer on anoutside surface thereof.

In some example embodiments, the heating element 24 is a porous materialthat incorporates a resistance heater formed of a material having a highelectrical resistance capable of generating heat quickly.

In some example embodiments, the cartridge 70 may be replaceable. Inother words, once the pre-vapor formulation of the cartridge 70 isdepleted, only the cartridge 70 may be replaced. In some exampleembodiments, the entire e-vaping device 60 may be disposed once thereservoir 22 is depleted.

In some example embodiments, the e-vaping device 60 may be about 80 mmto about 110 mm long and about 7 mm to about 8 mm in diameter. Forexample, the e-vaping device 60 may be about 84 mm long and may have adiameter of about 7.8 mm.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an e-vaping device including aninfrared sensor 81 internal to the vapor generator 80 within a cartridge70, according to some example embodiments. The e-vaping device 60 shownin FIG. 2 may be included in any embodiments of e-vaping devicesincluded herein.

In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, infrared sensor 81included in a cartridge 70 is further included within vapor generator80. Infrared sensor 81 has a field of view 83. A portion 214 of thefield of view 83 encompasses a portion 222 of the vaporizer assembly.

As shown in FIG. 2, the field of view 83 may encompass a portion 222that is an entirety of the vaporizer assembly 90. Where field of view 83of the infrared sensor 81 encompasses an entirety of the vaporizerassembly 90, as shown in FIG. 2, the field of view 83 may encompass anentirety of the portion of the dispensing interface 25 extending throughthe central channel 20 between separate portions of the inner tube 62.Such a field of view 83 may also encompass an entirety of the portion ofthe heating element 24 extending through the central channel 20 betweenseparate portions of the inner tube 62.

As shown in FIG. 2, the field of view 83 may be substantially free ofany elements (obstructions) located between the infrared sensor 81 andthe vaporizer assembly 90. As a result, a portion 214 of the field ofview 83 that encompasses a portion 222 of the vaporizer assembly 90 isunobstructed. An infrared sensor 81 having such a field of view 83 maybe referred to as having an “unobstructed” field of view 83 of theportion 222 of the vaporizer assembly 90.

In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the portion 214 of the fieldof view 83 that encompasses the portion 222 of the vaporizer assembly 90is an entirety of the field of view 83. However, it will be understoodthat, in some example embodiments, the portion 214 may be a limitedportion of the field of view 83, such that a remainder portion of thefield of view 83 excludes the portion 222 of the vaporizer assembly 90.For example, a remainder portion of the field of view 83 may encompass aportion of the inner tube 62.

In some example embodiments, an infrared sensor 81 included in the vaporgenerator 80 may have a field of view 83 that encompasses a greaterportion 222 of the vaporizer assembly 90 than a field of view 204 of aninfrared sensor 202 located external to the cartridge 70. For example,as shown in FIG. 2, an infrared sensor 202 external to the cartridge 70has a field of view 204 that is partially obstructed 208 by theinterfaces 74, 84 such that a limited portion 206 of the field of view204 extends through the gap 201 in the interfaces 74, 84 to encompass aportion 220 of the vaporizer assembly 90.

The infrared sensor 81 included within the vapor generator 80, beingdirectly coupled to the inner tube 62 and exposed to the central channel20, has an unobstructed field of view 83 that encompasses an entirety ofboth the heating element 24 and the dispensing element 25 extendingthrough the portion 222 of the vaporizer assembly 90.

In FIG. 2, portion 222 encompasses an entirety of the vaporizer assembly90, but it will be understood that the field of view 83 may encompassdifferent portions 222 of the vaporizer assembly 90 that are differentfrom an entirety of the vaporizer assembly 90.

As a result, infrared sensor 81 may measure temperatures of a portion222 of the vaporizer assembly 90, including the one or more portions ofthe heating element 24 and dispensing interface 25 included therein.Because portion 222 is greater than portion 220, the infrared sensor 81may be configured to measure temperatures of a greater portion of thevaporizer assembly 90 than the infrared sensor 202, based on theinfrared sensor 81 being included within at least the cartridge 70. Insome example embodiments, the infrared sensor 81 may be configured tomeasure temperatures of a greater portion of the vaporizer assembly 90than the infrared sensor 202, based on the infrared sensor 81 beingincluded within the vapor generator 80.

Based at least in part upon reduced obstruction of a field of view 83encompassing one or more portions 222 of the vaporizer assembly 90, theinfrared sensor 81 may be configured to measure a temperature of one ormore portions of the vaporizer assembly 90 with greater precision andaccuracy, relative to the infrared sensor 202 located external to thecartridge 70.

Furthermore, a lack of obstructions in the field of view 83 maycontribute to a reduced interference of field of view obstructions withtemperature measurements by the infrared sensor 81 of portions of thevaporizer assembly 90 within the field of view 83, relative totemperature measurements by the infrared sensor 202 of portions of thevaporizer assembly 90 within the partially obstructed field of view 204.

In addition, the spacing distance 216 between the infrared sensor 81included in the vapor generator 80 and the vaporizer assembly 90 may beless than the spacing distance 210 between the infrared sensor 202 andthe vaporizer assembly 90. Because the infrared sensor 81 is closer thanthe infrared sensor 202 to the vaporizer assembly 90, the infraredsensor 81 may be configured to measure a temperature of one or moreportions of the vaporizer assembly 90 with greater precision andaccuracy, relative to the infrared sensor 202.

The infrared sensor 81 may be directly coupled to one or more elementsincluded in the vapor generator 80. In the example embodimentillustrated in FIG. 2, the infrared sensor 81 is directly coupled to aportion of the inner tube 62. In some example embodiments, the infraredsensor 81 may be directly coupled to one or more of the gasket 15 andthe gasket 18 (the gasket 18 is not shown in FIG. 2). In some exampleembodiments, the infrared sensor 81 may be directly coupled to one ormore of the heating element 24 and the dispensing interface 25.

As shown in FIG. 2, an infrared sensor 81 directly coupled to one ormore portions of the inner tube 62, gasket 15, etc. defining the centralchannel 20 may have a field of view 83 that both encompasses at least anentirety of the vaporizer assembly 90 and is unobstructed relative tothe vaporizer assembly 90.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an e-vaping device including aninfrared sensor 81 that is within a cartridge 70 and external to thevapor generator 80 in the cartridge 70, according to some exampleembodiments. The e-vaping device 60 shown in FIG. 3 may be included inany embodiments of e-vaping devices included herein.

In some example embodiments, an infrared sensor 81 included in acartridge 70 may be included external to a vapor generator 80 within thecartridge 70. As shown in the illustrated example embodiment of FIG. 3,the infrared sensor 81 may be included in the cartridge 70 and externalto vapor generator 80 such that the field of view 83 of the infraredsensor 81 extends through the channel 14 in the gasket 15 into thecentral channel 20.

In some example embodiments, an infrared sensor 81 included in thecartridge 70 externally to the vapor generator 80 may have a field ofview 83 that encompasses a greater portion 322 of the vaporizer assembly90 than a field of view 204 of an infrared sensor 202 located externalto the cartridge 70. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a portion 320 ofthe field of view 83 of infrared sensor 81 is obscured by gasket 15, butan unobstructed portion 314 of the field of view 83 encompasses anentirety of the vaporizer assembly 90. Because the infrared sensor 81 isincluded in the cartridge 70, the infrared sensor 81 has a field of viewthat is not obstructed by interfaces 74, 84. The field of view 204 ofthe infrared sensor 202 external to the cartridge 70 is at leastpartially obstructed by interfaces 74, 84. As a result, the unobstructedportion 206 of the field of view 204 encompasses a portion 220 of thevaporizer assembly 90. The portion 220 is smaller than the portion 322encompassed by the unobstructed portion 314 of the field of view 83.

Based at least in part upon reduced obstruction 320 of a field of view83 encompassing one or more portions 322 of the vaporizer assembly 90,the infrared sensor 81 may be configured to measure a temperature of oneor more portions of the vaporizer assembly 90 with greater precision andaccuracy, relative to the infrared sensor 202 located external to thecartridge 70.

Furthermore, a reduced obstruction 320 of the field of view 83 ofinfrared sensor 81, relative to the obstruction 208 of the field of view204 of infrared sensor 202, may contribute to a reduced interference offield of view obstructions with temperature measurements by the infraredsensor 81 of portions of the vaporizer assembly 90 within the field ofview 83, relative to temperature measurements by the infrared sensor 202of portions of the vaporizer assembly 90 within the partially obstructedfield of view 204.

In addition, the spacing distance 316 between the infrared sensor 81included in the cartridge 70 and the heating element 24 may be less thanthe spacing distance 210 between the infrared sensor 202 in the powersupply section 72 and the heating element 24. Because the infraredsensor 81 is closer to the heating element 24, the infrared sensor 81may measure a temperature of one or more portions of the vaporizerassembly 90 with greater precision and accuracy based on closerproximity of the infrared sensor 81 to the vaporizer assembly 90,relative to an infrared sensor 202 located in the power supply section72.

FIG. 4 illustrates configuring a cartridge to provide sensor dataassociated with a temperature of at least a portion of a vapor generatorincluded in the cartridge, according to some example embodiments. Theconfiguring may be implemented with regard to any embodiments ofcartridge 70 included herein. The configuring may be implemented by oneor more configurors. A configuror may include one or more of a humanoperator or a machine. When the configuror is a machine, the machine mayimplement the configuring based on a computer processing deviceexecuting program code stored on a computer readable storage medium. Themachine may be a computer processing device.

Referring to FIG. 4, at 402, the configuror configures a cartridge toprovide sensor data associated with a temperature of at least a portionof a vapor generator included in the cartridge, according to someexample embodiments.

At 410, the configuror installs a vapor generator in the cartridge. Insome example embodiments, a vapor generator includes a heating elementand a dispensing interface. The installing may include at least one ofcoupling the heating element to the dispensing interface, coupling thedispensing interface to a portion of the cartridge, coupling the heatingelement to a portion of the cartridge, etc. In some example embodiments,a vapor generator includes gaskets at opposite ends of an inner tube,where the dispensing interface and heating element extend through acentral channel defined by the inner tube, and the installing the vaporgenerator in the cartridge includes inserting the gaskets, inner tube,dispensing interface, and heating element within an outer housing of thecartridge. In some example embodiments, the vapor generator includes areservoir and the installing the vapor generator in the cartridgeincludes inserting one or more storage materials comprising thereservoir into an annular space defined by the gaskets and inner tube ofthe vapor generator, and the outer housing of the cartridge.

At 420, the configuror couples an infrared sensor to the cartridge. Thecoupling may include directly coupling the infrared sensor to a portionof the vapor generator. For example, where the vapor generator includesan inner tube at least partially defining a central channel throughwhich the dispensing interface and heating element extend, the couplingmay include coupling the infrared sensor to a portion of the inner tubesuch that the infrared sensor is exposed directly to the centralchannel. In another example, the coupling may include directly couplingthe infrared sensor to a portion of a gasket included in the vaporgenerator.

The coupling may include coupling the infrared sensor to a portion ofthe cartridge that is external to the vapor generator. In some exampleembodiments, the coupling includes coupling the infrared sensor to oneor more electrical leads. The coupling may include coupling the one ormore leads to one or more connector elements to couple the infraredsensor to the one or more connector elements through the one or moreleads.

The coupling may include installing an electrical storage device in thecartridge. The coupling may include coupling the infrared sensor to theelectrical storage device via one or more leads. The coupling mayinclude coupling the storage device to one or more connector elements ofthe cartridge.

At 430, the configuror couples the cartridge to a power supply section.The coupling may include electrically coupling the heating element andthe infrared sensor to a power supply in the power supply section.

The coupling may include communicatively coupling at least the heatingelement to control circuitry included in the power supply section suchthat the control circuitry may adjustably control the supply ofelectrical power to the heating element.

The coupling may include communicatively coupling at least the infraredsensor to control circuitry included in the power supply section suchthat the control circuitry may adjustably control the supply ofelectrical power to the heating element based on sensor data generatedby the infrared sensor.

The coupling may include communicatively coupling at least a storagedevice included in the cartridge to control circuitry included in thepower supply section such that the control circuitry may adjustablycontrol the supply of electrical power to the heating element based onsensor data accessed from the storage device.

While a number of example embodiments have been disclosed herein, itshould be understood that other variations may be possible. Suchvariations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit andscope of the present disclosure, and all such modifications as would beobvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within thescope of the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A cartridge for an e-vaping device, the cartridgecomprising: a vaporizer assembly configured to vaporize a pre-vaporformulation to generate a vapor, the vaporizer assembly including, adispensing interface configured to draw the pre-vapor formulation from areservoir, and a heating element coupled to the dispensing interface,the heating element configured to heat the drawn pre-vapor formulation;and an infrared sensor configured to measure a temperature of at least aportion of the heating element within a field of view based on measuringinfrared radiation emitted by the portion of the heating element, theinfrared sensor coupled to a portion of the cartridge such that theinfrared sensor is within the cartridge, the field of view is directedto an interior of the cartridge, and the field of view encompasses anentirety of the heating element.
 2. The cartridge of claim 1, furthercomprising: a hollow tube having an inner surface and an outer surface,the vaporizer assembly extending between separate points on the innersurface of the hollow tube, the infrared sensor being directly coupledto the inner surface of the hollow tube.
 3. The cartridge of claim 2,wherein the field of view includes a portion of the inner surface of thehollow tube.
 4. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a powersupply configured to removably couple to the cartridge at an interface,wherein the field of view excludes the interface.
 5. The cartridge ofclaim 1, further comprising: a gasket extending between separate pointsof an outer housing, wherein a first portion of the field of view isobstructed by the gasket and a second portion of the field of view isunobstructed by the gasket and encompasses the entirety of the heatingelement.
 6. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the infrared sensor isconfigured to measure a temperature of at least a portion of thedispensing interface within the field of view based on measuringinfrared radiation emitted by the portion of the dispensing interface.7. The cartridge of claim 6, wherein the infrared sensor is configuredto measure a temperature of the heating element based on both of theinfrared radiation emitted by the portion of the heating element and theinfrared radiation emitted by the portion of the dispensing interface.8. An e-vaping device, comprising: a cartridge, the cartridge includinga vaporizer assembly configured to vaporize a pre-vapor formulation togenerate a vapor, the vaporizer assembly including, a dispensinginterface configured to draw the pre-vapor formulation from a reservoir,and a heating element coupled to the dispensing interface, the heatingelement configured to heat the drawn pre-vapor formulation; and aninfrared sensor configured to measure a temperature of at least aportion of the heating element within a field of view based on measuringinfrared radiation emitted by the portion of the heating element, theinfrared sensor coupled to a portion of the cartridge such that theinfrared sensor is within the cartridge, the field of view is directedto an interior of the cartridge, and the field of view encompasses anentirety of the heating element; and a power supply configured to supplyelectrical power to the cartridge.
 9. The e-vaping device of claim 8,further comprising: control circuitry configured to adjustably controlthe electrical power supplied to the cartridge based on the measuredtemperature of the heating element.
 10. The e-vaping device of claim 9,wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjustably control theelectrical power supplied to the cartridge to maintain the measuredtemperature of the heating element below a threshold temperature. 11.The e-vaping device of claim 9, further comprising a storage devicecommunicatively coupled to the infrared sensor, the storage device beingconfigured to store sensor data generated by the infrared sensor; andthe control circuitry is configured to adjustably control the electricalpower supplied to the cartridge based on accessing at least a portion ofthe sensor data stored at the storage device.
 12. The e-vaping device ofclaim 8, wherein the cartridge further includes a hollow tube having aninner surface and an outer surface, the vaporizer assembly extendingbetween separate points on the inner surface of the hollow tube, theinfrared sensor being directly coupled to the inner surface of thehollow tube.
 13. The e-vaping device of claim 12, wherein the field ofview includes a portion of the inner surface of the hollow tube.
 14. Thee-vaping device of claim 8, wherein the power supply is configured toremovably couple to the cartridge at an interface, and wherein the fieldof view excludes the interface.
 15. The e-vaping device of claim 8,further comprising: an outer housing, the outer housing enclosing thecartridge and the power supply; and a gasket extending between separatepoints of the outer housing, wherein a first portion of the field ofview is obstructed by the gasket and a second portion of the field ofview is unobstructed by the gasket and encompasses the entirety of theheating element.
 16. The e-vaping device of claim 15, wherein the gasketis within the cartridge.
 17. The e-vaping device of claim 8, wherein theinfrared sensor is configured to measure a temperature of at least aportion of the dispensing interface within the field of view based onmeasuring infrared radiation emitted by the portion of the dispensinginterface.
 18. A method, comprising: configuring a cartridge to providesensor data associated with a temperature of at least a portion of avaporizer assembly included in the cartridge, wherein the configuringincludes, installing the vaporizer assembly in the cartridge, thevaporizer assembly being configured to vaporize a pre-vapor formulationto generate a vapor, the vaporizer assembly including a dispensinginterface and a heating element, the dispensing interface beingconfigured to draw the pre-vapor formulation from a reservoir, theheating element being coupled to the dispensing interface, the heatingelement being configured to heat the drawn pre-vapor formulation; andcoupling an infrared sensor to a portion of the cartridge such that theinfrared sensor is within the cartridge and such that an entirety of theheating element is within a field of view of the infrared sensor, theinfrared sensor being configured to measure infrared radiation emittedwithin the field of view, the infrared sensor further configured togenerate the sensor data based on the measured infrared radiation.